Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

[Pea-n-Me]

Linda - your pictures are awesome and your kids are cute too. Looks like they enjoy pin collecting. My oldest ds said, when I asked him if they wanted to do it years ago, No Mom, its just another way of Disney trying to make money from us I should have named him Donald Trump!!

My favorites were the AK ones of the birds and Devine. Also what was the one of the lighted lion? I am technically inept. I wouldnt even know how to post a link etc.

Thank you! I decided this trip that I would like to get my own lanyard and pin collection going, though what I'd like is a pin from every resort we've stayed in (does the Dolphin have one?) and the DCL. I didn't push the issue this trip because I figured the lanyard would interfere with the constantly-on-my-neck camera strap. But it might make a nice gift for me at some point, have hinted around to the fam.

Tell your DS that pin trading is how we got to picked as Soarin Family of the Day one trip! We had a group of 8 and the four kids in the group were pin trading with the CMs at rope drop. One of them came over to us, asked us how many were in our party, and told us we were SFotD!

As for the food angle, nutrition is a subject that interests me. I did try to go organic and "healthier" after my cancer diagnosis. They don't make it easy, though, organic is so expensive and there aren't too many places right where I live that sell it, or they sell just a few items that don't look too good, LOL. I am definitely, though, more aware of what types of foods I consume and how they're cooked. We grill a lot, year round, but the char that gets on grilled food is known to be carcinogenic. I mentioned this the other night to DH when he kind of burnt our marinated chicken on the grill. His excuse was that we need a new grill which is probably true, so I said then let's just get one. I don't want any of us to wind up with colon cancer, god forbid. We like to keep grilled chicken on hand for salads during the week, etc.

I also stopped using things like artificial sweetners, based on things I'd read during my cancer experience. However, I'm torn about it now as I'm always trying to watch calories and I do like my coffee. I think that probably everything in moderation is ok.

There is some evidence that something about the fried oil that is on things like french fries (and chips! my weakness too) is also harmful, same with that whole thing with the fumes from microwave popcorn, and then there were issues with microwaving in plastic, etc. So yes, I pay attention to all of it and try to make healthy choices whenever I can. The truth is, I feel better when I eat healthier. And I think a lot of my growing kids and what they're putting in their bodies. So I try to buy as many fresh, healthy items as I can, and I try to not buy things I know aren't good for any of us. (I buy some snack foods, but only in the single serving packs.) It's an ongoing challenge, and I don't go crazy with any of it.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Read it? Have you looked at posters' usernames?

I've been thinking of you in some of my rantings on the thread. You have been through he LL and back. I'm glad prayers make you feel better and that you're willing to accept the prayers of those whose beliefs might not mirror your own. I myself was always happy when anyone prayed for me. The quote I mentioned there (courtesy of DH) comes to mind with all of us, Father Mulcahy on MASH - "There are no athiests in foxholes!" It's easy to say prayers don't matter, but most people welcome them when they're facing a life threatening illness, don't they?

BTW, this friend, is she a nurse?

I dont know exactly what she does. I know she was always in scrubs when she picked up her ds at school when I saw her. She said, oh I will be in the cancer center around the corner. I have never been to the cancer center yet, so I am guessing that is where the appt. will be, dh made it. This is all new and a learning experience for sue. I did read the oncologist has written a chapter in some book. Her chapter is about thyroid cancer in particular and I did ask this lady about hormone stuff. She said the dr. will make the decision about that looking at the pathology report etc. I specifically asked about hormone stuff because as usual I dont do well with hormone stuff. I told her the last hormone stuff I had was to stop the bleeding before a d anc c once and I was so off the wall and got a giant black and blue on the back of my L thigh from the knee to butt, so of course I am worried about blood clot stuff etc. This will be a big issue to discuss. I want to know specifically what kind of hormones are we talking about. I read something if you get the radioactive pills, getting this hormone before helps to absorb it better if that is the true treatment I will be getting. Who knows about that any way at the moment. They say it has a chemo affect without true chemo? But I dont want her to think I am going to fit in her textbook, who was it poster Ann, that said, I am not a textbook and her dr. is treating her as a person, not by the textbook etc. I want them to do that to me too!!

 

[grammynelliebelle]

GAGWTA- Hi to all. I finally have internet! I will need a few days with no company to sit down at the clubhouse and catch up with everyones going ons. We have been so blessed to be here this winter. We have had tons of company both family and friends and it is wonderful to be able to share this with them. Snappy, I hope you and dd had a great trip! It would have been nice to meet up, but we have had a full house. I am glad I got to Moffitt and feel that I am in a holding pattern of watchful waiting. Comfortable with that. I hope you all are well and for those going through acute things now blessings to you. I will try to catch up over the weekend. Grammy(Carol)

 

[snappy]

Great to see you Carol!! Yes, our trip was really wonderful.
Glad your extended stay has gone so well. You will have to give us a full report when you can.

How cool to have so much company.

Isn't visiting WDW great in cooler weather? I love not sweating!

 

[Aliceacc]

LMP, I'm so glad to hear how upbeat you sound!!!

My latest wrinklle: with 4 days of radiation left, I have a sunburn in a place where the sun has never shone!!! It's starting to get painful to wear a bra, but pre-masteceomy I was a 36C. Well, I'm not supposed to wear a bra for a while

I'm 50 years old, I teach in a coed high school, and the mastectomy was only on the right side. So you can just imagine where that left breast lands minus a bra!!

I'm sitting here, in a white T shirt, covered by a collared blouse (hey, there's got to be better structure there than in a T, right?) and soon I'll put on a blazer. But I'm guessing I'll still have to walk at a 45 degree angle all day to appear less lopsided.

But I am not doing ANYTHING to invite more medical problems. I can pretend it's the 60's and I've burned my bra.

This should be an interesting week, particularly with parent meetings on Thursday

 

[laurabelle]

~~~***GAGWTA sistas***~~~

Carol- It's good to hear from you! I'm glad you are enjoying your winter in FL! I bet you have had lots of company!!!

Alice- I expect your students (and their parents) will be getting a lesson in compassion this week...

Elizabeth- How's your son doing? It must be what's going around now because my oldest is staying home with it today.

Maryann- You sound good! I remember one of the times I had drains after surgery it took longer than expected for the output to slow down. It's a little frustrating, wanting them out, but they served their purpose, no swelling or bruising. Hormone therapy is used a lot for BC. Mostly trying to cut off estrogen. It can be rough side effect wise, and some have to stop, but for others the side effects are tolerable or lessen over time. That does sound odd that the dr. thinks your pain is related to something else. The last surgery I had (oopherectomy/hysterectomy) I had more pain than I should have and they had to keep me longer and call in a pain dr.

It was my GI doc that told me I am not a textbook...

That's a neat Godwink! I had a friend who was also a Messianic Jew and we had some great conversations. Also had some beautiful encounters with techs, ect. as an inpatient. One of my favorites was a lady coming in for a blood draw who spotted my Bible on the bedside table and said, "I see you brought your sword!"

As far as eating organic goes, there are some foods that it really doesn't pay to buy organic. Bananas are one...
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Dirty-Dozen-Foods

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...when-buying-organic-pays-and-doesnt/index.htm
I'm not a nut about it, but I figure if it's good for you and tastes better, why not. Plus my youngest is very eco minded...it goes hand in hand.

I like to shop at Trader Joe's mostly, as they have great prices for organic stuff and lots of natural, no preservatives, no high fructose corn syrup in their packaged stuff. I do enjoy my snicky snacks, remember dark chocolate is good for you. I don't drink sodas, but I love coffee, white tea and some herbals, I did drink wine until my GI doc put me on injections that will kill my liver if combined with alcohol. I eat wild caught fish (you can buy this cheap at Super Walmart, yes Super Walmart...)

My kids were little when I was dxed with BC. They pretty much ate whatever they wanted, between doting friends and family, and the convenience for me. They have been off the majority of fast food ever since my oldest watched Super Size Me in health class in middle school. Right now they are into the Eat This Not That book series. It's a real eye opener. And I could not have done a better job at getting my kids to eat healthier than that movie and these books have done!

Hubby went back to work this morning. I told him not to push it, and I think he should work a 1/2 day. We'll see if he listens...His heart rate went way up after we took a walk Sun. so we took a shorter walk yesterday. I took him to Target and Trader Joe's on Sun. too, but not for long, I could tell it was wearing on him.

He did call the EP center and spoke with someone about some questions we had, including the article I mentioned that they included with his pacemaker info about Long QT. He does not have that, and the nurse explained how they identify it. The genetic testing seems to be directly related to that heart condition specifically. So, for now anyway, no need for an implanted defibrillator. Still not sure why that article was in his packet of info. He'll be seen next month, and I guess that's when they'll start trying out the beta blockers.

Whew, this has gotten much sexier than I intended!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Laura, the tachycardia should get better with the beta blockers. Many patients get a pacer/defib device - maybe they grabbed the wrong teaching booklet or were out of the ones for just pacer, but they should have explained that didn't apply to him. I'm glad that's behind him. It will get better. (It's good that he doesn't have prolonged QT which can lead to sudden ventricular dysrythmias and require defib. Most of our (severe) heart failure patients get pacer/defibs.)

One of my favorites was a lady coming in for a blood draw who spotted my Bible on the bedside table and said, "I see you brought your sword!"

Great line!!

Carol, glad you're almost through radiation! It does get uncomfortable toward the end there. Having not had a mastectomy, I must say you have me stumped here:

So you can just imagine where that left breast lands minus a bra!!

Have you ever seen those little things that go under the breast to keep it steady? I'm thinking maybe one of these might help? At any rate, I'll be thinking of you Thursday at teacher conferences!

I had a recent oncology appointment that I meant to mention here. It was a different kind of appointment, I'd say, and I left feeling pretty - um, I don't know - good, I guess. I guess I'd probably compare it to a pediatrics appointment - the difference between a sick visit and a well visit is the best I can describe it. Up until now, it's *almost* as if it's been like a sick visit, but this time it was like a well visit. In retrospect, it's nice to have finally "made it" to a point where maybe I don't have to worry as much. Sure, that's gotten less with time for myself, but I always felt as if my oncology team were still kind of keeping a pretty close eye out for things - asking pointed questions about symptoms, ordering tests for problems, etc. This time was different. More like, "it must feel great to be at the five year mark". Yes.

She explained that with my triple negative status, the likelihood of recurrence at this point is greatly reduced. We had an I'd say extensive conversation about the pros and cons of doing routine bloodwork and testing, what studies have shown, etc. (My former onc always did bloodwork, my new onc doesn't, so it's been a little difficult for me to get used to not doing it.) She'll do it if I want to, but her feeling was more that I can stop worrying about doing it now - that even if I were to get something, bloodwork and testing weren't going to make much difference in an outcome and it can cause lots of needless worry with false readings, or even cause a false sense of security if it didn't pick something up, etc.

At any rate, I thought I'd mention it. The different mindset may take some getting used to. I told my DH that maybe I need to start looking at things differently myself, too. I guess I have, but it's never been "official", KWIM? I thought this might be reassuring to hear for those here still in the intense worry phase. I know I always liked to hear the good stuff!

GAGWTA

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I have time today for a little trip report like I promised.

So one of our favorite parts of our trip is driving to the airport. In our day to day lives we often drive the same route for shopping and such, and one of us will always say, "Don't you wish we were on our way to Disney?" So it's nice to really be on the way, so we enjoy every second of that ride! We pop in a Disney CD and look forward to being in Orlando in about 5 hrs.

We had a slight delay in the garage getting our rental. I'd done the online check in so really all we needed to do was show them our paperwork in the garage itself, then go to the car. (The people there were singing my praises saying most people don't have their paperwork in hand, but I keep a folder with everything in our carry on bag so we have it.) So they direct us to a car, we throw our stuff in, and begin to take off to the final check out. But I notice DH and DS are sneezing and I immediately get a frontal/sinus headache after getting in the car. Someone had smoked in the car and they apparently tried to hide the smell with cleaners. So the girl at the booth notices our distress and asks if everything's ok (fortunately). We tell her what's going on, and she tells us to go get another car, so we have to back up and go make the switch. What a bummer! It also left me with a whopping headache for the beginning of the journey to CBR. Luckily, DH and DS were ok. (The men in DH's family all have bad sinus problems, and DS inherited them, too.)

We quickly hit the grocery store on the way there, and made it to the resort around 9:30 ish. The guard from the booth asked where we were from and teased us about bringing the cold weather with us - it was 24 degrees when we got there, and the natives were freezing! (To us, it was fine.) Check in was quick, and it was fun finding our room. We lucked out and got a great room in Aruba right at the foot of the bridge going to Old Port Royale. We wanted to explore a bit before it got too late (the kids had been up all day for school) so we headed out and walked around. Our room was nice and clean and felt spacious. It had recently been renovated in the Nemo theme.

Over the course of the next 7 days (wow, was it really that long? It absolutely FLEW by! ) we hit all the parks and DD, no water parks. We'd debated before our trip our touring schedule, and based on our January trip last year - without the 4/3 deal going on - we decided we would completely avoid EMH at all costs. We had just base tix, not hoppers, so we reasoned that if it was super busy (which we can't stand, and it was last year @ EMHs), we'd be stuck there. That strategy worked out pretty well. DHS was fairly busy (as usual, it seems now, maybe it's the small size) but we did ok using FPs. We got there at opening, took a mid day break, and then came back later. They were actually open an hour later than the brochures said, so the kids got in a couple of extra rides on RnRC and ToT while I took some pictures and DH relaxed. (See photo thread.)

We took one day off just to relax. We hit a flea market in Kissimmee, but I think it wasn't the one we'd intended to go to. We didn't know there were a whole bunch of flea markets, so we just followed a sign for one and pulled in. (We didn't realize until we were leaving there are a bunch of them in that area; in retrospect we should have known when we saw it was indoor, but I guess it didn't dawn on us at the time.) That was a little disappointing as DH and DS were looking forward to getting some fishing stuff, but this flea market had only junky stuff. We did meet a nice guy from MA who we wound up buying quite a few DVDs from at a great price, and he even had some girls shorts in size 12 for DD for $1 which I was happy about because I'd forgotten to pack shorts for her and was planning to hit WalMart later (I find packing for January a challenge with the need for both winter and summer wear!)

This was our first stay at CBR. We wanted to try it, as we eventually want to try all the resorts. DH's brother (who passed away) always stayed there, so it kind of felt nice in that way (and I have an interesting picture which I'm not going to post, but suffice it to say, it's "unusual"). I was amazed at the size of the place. We walked it's entirety several times and at a liesurely pace, that took over an hour. We went to the far end of Trinidad South and were surprised to see the back of Pop Century, even though we knew they were next to eachother.

My thoughts on it, for what they're worth? We liked it, but we didn't feel "immersed" in the Disney experience like we usually do as it was just so big. We kind of felt like we stayed "near Disney". We couldn't imagine being in one of the really far rooms. The food in the food court was our least favorite, in fact we had some meals there that just weren't good. With that said, it's certainly a pretty resort, and even though it was completely full one night (which I know because I tried unsuccessfully to get a room for my niece and her fiance who were down there visiting his family nearby) it didn't feel crowded in any way. We wouldn't not stay there again, but it probably won't be high on our list of places to stay on future trips. We liked the other Mods better. But that's just us.

I'm glad we had a car. (We usually do get one but last year we didn't because we got a free limo ride and we wished we did.) It makes a difference for us because we love visiting the other resorts, and this trip was no exception. (I also like knowing I can easily get to WalMart or a hospital if need be.) We were all over the place!

We had the Quick Service Dining Plan so we'd studied everyone's menus ahead of time and knew where we wanted to go to get some different types of meals. Pepper Market, of course, is always a hit. That was our most expensive meal at over $100 ($112 IIR) for lunch but it was really good, kids and I got the fajitas, DH got the kung pao (?sp)chicken. We also liked the food at the renovated CR food court - got the chicken caesar salad but DD got the pasta dish and it was really tasty. DH loved his African stew at Mara at AKL. I got the 1/2 chicken dish and I didn't really like the taste of it (spoiled at work where they make the best broiled chicken), so wound up eating DSs chicken caesar salad (which we ate lots of that week! the best actually being at CBR, very garlicy which I like). We also hit Pop Century knowing they have a great food court and loving the parmasean chicken, and that didn't disappoint. If I had it to do over again, we probably would have gone there more. They have a really good selection and I think the prices are lower, too! DH got the grilled veggie panini and he loved it. DS got CCS (again!) and DD I think got a meatball sandwich. We left 3 counter service credits unused, even with grabbing pizza on the way out. It was a lot, and the two dessert credits put you over the edge! (I tried to get fresh fruit with one of them, but DH and the kids had a field day, eating chocolate cake until it was coming out their ears! )

We did find that using the credits for breakfast and dinner worked out well, with a light lunch in between. If you do it right, you can even use your snack credits for that light lunch. Live and learn. The one thing that I thought was silly, though, is if you get breakfast, you can get two drinks, but not fresh fruit. I don't get that - who needs two drinks, plus mug? We found the drinks began piling up in our fridge, LOL. (ETA it would be good to get waters to take in the parks here, but we'd already bought water. Again, live and learn. Kind of hard to know exactly what to do sometimes.)

As for snack credits, we found that even with the QSDP, we were so full that we barely used them, and wound up still having 32 credits left at checkout, so we got $95 worth of MM rice bars and other snacks which we took home and distributed to friends and family. (This must happen a lot as they had brown, handled grocery bags at the checkouts.) We probably shouldn't have bothered getting groceries, but I did want to keep cereal on hand and we needed water, etc. (Some stuff went to waste but the mousekeeper told me she'd take it when I asked her if she would, so that made me feel better.)

I think Disney has also gotten selective this year about how you can use snack credits (of course, I'd studied the snack threads here, too) - for instance, we got egg rolls in AK as a snack. We ordered the shrimp ones (which were $2.39 each) but we were told we could only have the plain veggie ones ($1.79). That seemed silly as I believed the credits were worth up to $4 each. We'd also ordered some corn dog nuggets which the kids were looking forward to and even though they were under $4, the tax pushed it over the $4 mark so they "weren't allowed" (ie the register wouldn't even ring them up as snack credit) so we had to pay cash for those.

Overall, it was convenient just handing over the room key for food, but for us, I don't think it was cost effective at all. It was a lot of food, more than we would normally buy, and there was a lot of waste. We would have been better off paying OOP and splitting meals, using our groceries, etc. (healthier, too). I also didn't appreciate expecting one thing, and getting another (ie snacks). I don't like being made to feel I'm doing something "wrong" or asking for something I already paid for.

That reminds me of one thing that was kind of not so magical, too. At CBR, DS was anxious to use his 30 minute arcade card which came with the 4/3 pkg. I admit I didn't read the fine print on the card as I was bogged down with all kinds of paperwork on check in, you know how that goes; nor did I know what time OPR was open until, though it was hopping while we were there so I figured it was probably open until around midnight. I also thought the card would be 30 minutes total, not a one shot deal. Anyway, the night of check in, DS was begging to try out the arcade so we let him while we got a quick bite to eat, looked around the gift shop, etc. Next thing you know he comes out after a few minutes and says the arcade's closing. No big deal, you can use the rest of the time on your card later. So the next day he goes to use it and the card doesn't work. So I went over to the Concierge right there to ask about it and I got lambasted. Apparently I should have known better, should have read the fine print, etc. Also heard things like, "Why'd you let him go in at five of eleven?", "We can't give you a new card", that type of thing - in a very sarcastic tone. Whoa! Hey, if I wanted to be talked to like this, I could have stayed home (I thought to myself)! I felt so badly. She stormed off and I apologized to the other CM there (who hadn't heard any of this as she was dealing with another guest), saying I'm sorry but I really didn't know, etc, and she was so nice about it, saying don't even worry, etc. They gave him another card but I felt like I'd gotten scolded. Bad Mommy. Later, another guest who wasn't going to use her arcade card gave it to DS, so he was happy. Fortunately just about everyone else was really nice, but that upset me a little the first full day of our trip.

Oops, long enough, coffee cup cold, hope you're still awake, LOL.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Laura - DS still feels horrible. DH is taking him to the Dr. later.

Linda - That is crummy about the arcade card! I am sure there are PLENTY of people who don't read the fine print, so I bet there have been a ton of complaints. I am glad they gave you another card, even if they were ugly about it.

Aliceacc- Hang in there! You are in the home stretch!
I had one of those "stick-on" bras to go under a sundress one time. Might be worth a shot!

Hope everyone is doing well! and all around!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Linda, I enjoyed reading your trip report. I do a little resort report and of course my dining reviews when I do a trip. I havent done the whole trip report for a while. I used to when the ds were younger.

Well dh talked to the surgeon, whom they paged, and literally had his hands in a patient while operating. He gave the drain amount, like 75 and asked DH if I got mad or upset last night. Yes I did at ds21 and mad too as dh is so easy going, never corrects the situation etc. He said that triggered a bleed, not good. So I need to chill out. Easy for hm to say. He does not live here with my family. Of course, dh couldnt ask him all our other questions. So another day of the drain so far. Also the endo called the house and I talked to her. She said she wants to see me monday at 3. I am getting blood work on thurs. My head spins. She said the cancer is treatable but agressive, what does that mean? I dont know if she was specifically commenting on the "rare" stuff they were tallking about etc.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Linda - If you think the camera is a black hole of a money pit then you might REALLY want to rethink getting yourself a pin lanyard! I bet DH could have bought an incredible camera with all the money we have spent on pins. In fact, I am SURE of it.

Disney Shopping is having their annual pin sale right now. I was up at 2 AM to buy pins yesterday (the sale goes live at midnight Pacific time) and I was furious that there wasn't a SINGLE pin for less than $7. Talk about a rip off! I will just buy a starter set in the parks!

Last year I bought about 15 sets with 5 pins each, so we had a TON of traders. The sets didn't average anywhere NEAR $7 per pin.
This year I think we'll just trade what we have left from last year and be done with it. With the prices so high on Disney Shopping I am sure everyone will be buying counterfeits on eBay to trade to CMs and I don't really want to drag a bunch of fakes home for my collection. I needed to get out of the pin habit, so maybe this is just the push I needed. I will still buy "special" pins from each trip, but I think we'll get out of trading.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Well, DS has Type B influenza. Dr. says he should feel better tomorrow.

Aliceacc - Mom says her skin is getting irritated, too. Her rad onc prescribed some steroid cream for her.

 

[Aliceacc]

Thanks. I got the cream a week or two ago.

It's only 3 more days; I can get through this. But in the meantime, the whole braless thing is giving all of us moms at work a lot of laughs!!!

 

[laurabelle]

~~~***GAGWTA sistas***~~~

Elizabeth- Sorry your son has the flu. How exactly do they dx it? I took dd to her ped. yesterday. Quick strep was neg. I think it's viral/cold. No fever... cough, earache, sore throat postnasal drip. I just hope it doesn't morph into infection as she is prone to do. At least the dr. has seen her and if she gets worse she can call something in. Dd is allergic to some antibiotics, so we avoid them if we can! She's staying home again today...

Alice- You have a great attitude...and it's contagious at work!

Maryann- It's probably good that your DH was the one hearing it from your dr. I know the strain this puts on everyone... I just got a taste of being the caretaker with my hubby...it's not easy. I hope you are able to get the rest you need. I think the endo. means you will want to be aggressive with your approach to treatment, whatever that entails. My cancer acted aggressively for it's size (again with the textbook thing!) so my onc told me we would treat it aggressively. That was 10 yrs ago... I still take BC meds, Aromasin, some of that hormonal therapy we talked about. I'm hoping there will be something after that I can take, not that I enjoy taking drugs, but if it keeps me here...

 

[laurabelle]

Laura, the tachycardia should get better with the beta blockers. Many patients get a pacer/defib device - maybe they grabbed the wrong teaching booklet or were out of the ones for just pacer, but they should have explained that didn't apply to him. I'm glad that's behind him. It will get better. (It's good that he doesn't have prolonged QT which can lead to sudden ventricular dysrythmias and require defib. Most of our (severe) heart failure patients get pacer/defibs.)

Thanks, I'm thinking this too.

She explained that with my triple negative status, the likelihood of recurrence at this point is greatly reduced. We had an I'd say extensive conversation about the pros and cons of doing routine bloodwork and testing, what studies have shown, etc. (My former onc always did bloodwork, my new onc doesn't, so it's been a little difficult for me to get used to not doing it.) She'll do it if I want to, but her feeling was more that I can stop worrying about doing it now - that even if I were to get something, bloodwork and testing weren't going to make much difference in an outcome and it can cause lots of needless worry with false readings, or even cause a false sense of security if it didn't pick something up, etc.


At any rate, I thought I'd mention it. The different mindset may take some getting used to. I told my DH that maybe I need to start looking at things differently myself, too. I guess I have, but it's never been "official", KWIM? I thought this might be reassuring to hear for those here still in the intense worry phase. I know I always liked to hear the good stuff!

GAGWTA

From what I've read, she is correct. For you, the first couple of years after dx you are at higher risk for recurrence. Being hormonal, my risk for recurrence years later is higher. I am not focusing on it, I just file it away and take my meds.

Hopkins does not do bloodwork for f/u. For the reasons your new onc stated. Sobering, but true. My onc does it (but I suspect she is more of the mindset of Hopkins oncs) but I never ask about it anymore, again, for the reasons your onc stated.

The mental cancer game changes the longer you're at it. I suspect we'll be old ladies scooting around World Showcase bragging about how many years ago we had BC...

 

[laurabelle]

I have time today for a little trip report like I promised.

So one of our favorite parts of our trip is driving to the airport. In our day to day lives we often drive the same route for shopping and such, and one of us will always say, "Don't you wish we were on our way to Disney?" So it's nice to really be on the way, so we enjoy every second of that ride! We pop in a Disney CD and look forward to being in Orlando in about 5 hrs.

Oh my gosh, we do this too! "What do you want to do today? Hey, let's go to Disney World!!!"



This was our first stay at CBR. We wanted to try it, as we eventually want to try all the resorts. DH's brother (who passed away) always stayed there, so it kind of felt nice in that way (and I have an interesting picture which I'm not going to post, but suffice it to say, it's "unusual").

It's a wonderful way to feel connected and keep his memory alive. I bet that pic was a Godwink...

My thoughts on it, for what they're worth? We liked it, but we didn't feel "immersed" in the Disney experience like we usually do as it was just so big. We kind of felt like we stayed "near Disney". We couldn't imagine being in one of the really far rooms. The food in the food court was our least favorite, in fact we had some meals there that just weren't good. With that said, it's certainly a pretty resort, and even though it was completely full one night (which I know because I tried unsuccessfully to get a room for my niece and her fiance who were down there visiting his family nearby) it didn't feel crowded in any way. We wouldn't not stay there again, but it probably won't be high on our list of places to stay on future trips. We liked the other Mods better. But that's just us.

I have never stayed at CBR. The only mods I have stayed at are POFQ AND CSR. We like them both for different reasons.

I'm glad we had a car. (We usually do get one but last year we didn't because we got a free limo ride and we wished we did.) It makes a difference for us because we love visiting the other resorts, and this trip was no exception. (I also like knowing I can easily get to WalMart or a hospital if need be.) We were all over the place!

Let's not go there!!!

We had the Quick Service Dining Plan so we'd studied everyone's menus ahead of time and knew where we wanted to go to get some different types of meals.
Overall, it was convenient just handing over the room key for food, but for us, I don't think it was cost effective at all. It was a lot of food, more than we would normally buy, and there was a lot of waste. We would have been better off paying OOP and splitting meals, using our groceries, etc. (healthier, too). I also didn't appreciate expecting one thing, and getting another (ie snacks). I don't like being made to feel I'm doing something "wrong" or asking for something I already paid for.

Thanks for confirming what I suspected. We are going to do the "We would have been better off..." plan

That reminds me of one thing that was kind of not so magical, too. At CBR, DS was anxious to use his 30 minute arcade card which came with the 4/3 pkg. I admit I didn't read the fine print on the card as I was bogged down with all kinds of paperwork on check in, you know how that goes; nor did I know what time OPR was open until, though it was hopping while we were there so I figured it was probably open until around midnight. I also thought the card would be 30 minutes total, not a one shot deal. Anyway, the night of check in, DS was begging to try out the arcade so we let him while we got a quick bite to eat, looked around the gift shop, etc. Next thing you know he comes out after a few minutes and says the arcade's closing. No big deal, you can use the rest of the time on your card later. So the next day he goes to use it and the card doesn't work. So I went over to the Concierge right there to ask about it and I got lambasted. Apparently I should have known better, should have read the fine print, etc. Also heard things like, "Why'd you let him go in at five of eleven?", "We can't give you a new card", that type of thing - in a very sarcastic tone. Whoa! Hey, if I wanted to be talked to like this, I could have stayed home (I thought to myself)! I felt so badly. She stormed off and I apologized to the other CM there (who hadn't heard any of this as she was dealing with another guest), saying I'm sorry but I really didn't know, etc, and she was so nice about it, saying don't even worry, etc. They gave him another card but I felt like I'd gotten scolded. Bad Mommy. Later, another guest who wasn't going to use her arcade card gave it to DS, so he was happy. Fortunately just about everyone else was really nice, but that upset me a little the first full day of our trip.

Gee, nice of that CM to scold you mom, sheesh. I had read that about the arcade card on another thread. At least there was a Disneyfied guest there with some pixie dust!

Oops, long enough, coffee cup cold, hope you're still awake, LOL.

Thank you! I am so needing some Disney magic right now!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Laura - They do a nasal swab to diagnose flu. DS was NOT impressed. He is still asleep, so I am going to keep him home today. There is no point in pushing him when he still feels crummy.
I hope your DD is feeling better soon!

Alice - Hang in there!

 

[snappy]

You are the ultimate early riser, Laura. With all the stress taking care of your DH, how are YOU feeling?

We gotta take care of the caretakers too, ya know.


Linda, you are a very good writer.I thoroughly enjoyed your trip report. Thanks so much for doing it. I know your time is precious. You are generous to give us so much of it here. It is interesting to see everything through someone else's eyes.

I really did like the resort, but I have not been to PO or CSR. I probably won't go to PO, too much like home if you get what I mean. I was really tempted to try CSR but I knew my chances were better to get a renovated room at CBR. Also there was some gigantic 2000 member preacher conference during our trip. You know how rowdy they can be?

Hope you keep on the mend, LMP. I am so glad you have the surgery behind you.

Also hope Laura's daughter and Elizabeth's son can both shake off their sickness. DD13 was home yesterday with an outer ear infection (maybe a lingering gift from WDW?)
Her religion teacher gave me a hard time when I went to pick up her materials. Do they think I am just letting her lounge around and skip school for no reason?

Hey, I am not that nice. Ask any of my three kids.

 

[NHAnn]

GAGWTA!!
Back yesterday from 6 nights at the Swan with DH GREAT trip. Did park touring 2 days in a row then a day "off" to shop DTD and lounge- then another park day then lounge/relax again last full day with mini-golf lunch at Big River on BW and pool time. Very relaxing. More details later.
Thought of you all...I always do when they play "We Go On" at the end of Illuminations:

With the stillness of the night
there comes a time to understand
to reach out and touch tomorrow
take the future in our hand

We can see a new horizon
built on all that we have done
and our dreams begin another
thousand circles 'round the sun

We go on
to the joy and through the tears
We go on
to discover new frontiers
Moving on
with the current of the years

We go on
moving forward, now as one
Moving on
with a spirit born to run
Ever on
with each rising sun

To a new day
We go on

We go on


Need to catch upon everyone and read back through.
Thinking of your DH and you Laura....

There are SO many bugs going around....here and at Disney.
I was a bit obsessive about handwashing, airborne, Emergen-C, disinfectant wipes throughout the trip. So far so good. Though DD woke up with aches and swollen glands and sore throat this morning

Worried about Melissa....is she near the tornado struck area??

Have a good day everyone!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Hope everyone's "kids" are better soon!

Actually, my DH is sick also. I believe it was a "lingerer" from the trip, possibly the plane ride home. He started coughing the day after we got home, that went on all last week. I told him he should make an appt with the dr as he often gets bronchitis because of this weird sinus/respiratory thing he has. Well he was busy at work after being on vacation, so he didn't go. But still, cough, cough, cough. By Sunday, his sputum had blood specs in it, so I MADE him go. Sure enough, bad bronchitis with sats of only 89% (normal 99%), now on antibiotics and three other things including an inhaler. This happened on one of our other trips also. I believe it started with a one night stay at Pop when we were in the 60's bldg near all the smokers - that night, sneeze, sneeze, sneeze (his MO). By the end of our stay (moved to Dolphin), he was sick in bed for the last night of our trip. So I wonder about the car issue. He's super allergic to smoke so I wonder if that's what started it off. Once those respiratory trees get irritated, infection can set in. It might have been just enough irritation to cause him to pick up a germ that non-irritated lungs would fight off. At any rate, he's still working but not feeling well at all. He got quite the lecture. Fortunately none of us got the GI bug that's going around WDW.

Ann, glad you had a nice trip!

You know, I like CSR but I also like POR, too. They both have a lot of "pros". We probably wouldn't have tried POR last year if CBR wasn't undergoing renovation - PO just didn't interest us much. But I did really like it there. We had a room in Alligator Bayou, which was neat to try (tho DH didn't really like it), and next time we'd probably prefer the Mansions, just because it's closer to POFQ and then you can use both resorts pools, food court, shops, etc. Kind of like a 2 for 1 special, which I like. I think the boat to DD is also a really nice feature of a Mod, as well as the firepit, horse and buggy rides, fishing hole, and lovely, lovely walkable grounds that seem more intimate than CBR. OTOH, we love CSR, too. Pepper Mkt, Maya Grill, the inside bar, the internal shuttle, the redone quick mart is lovely, smaller than CBR even though still large, in room dining, spa, hair shop, business ctr, and free Wi Fi (I had to pay $10/day). I guess they're all nice, and they all have their pros and cons. I just think that CSR and PO have more amenities that push them a little farther ahead than CBR, IMO.

We sat around Pop Century for a little while after we ate there and I must say I love it there, too. For the money, you can't beat it.